Boxmaking machine



Jan. 29, 1952 R. J. GAUBERT ETAL 2,583,641

BOXMAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet l //2 Fl E L INVENTORS Pane J Gauberf y Shin leg Marvin ATTORNEY 1952 R. J. GAUBERT EIAL 2,583,641

BOXMAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO RS Pena J Gauber/ BY jfan/ey Marv/n 024 m ATTORNEY 1952 R. J. GAUBERT EIAL 2,583,641

BOXMAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Pena J Gauber/ BY ffan/ey Marv/n ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1952 R. J. GAUBERT ErAL 2,583,641

BOXMAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gizm ATTORNEY Jan. 1952 R. J. GAUBERT HAL. 2,583,641

BOXMAKING MACHINE 7 Filed Dec. 3, 1946 8 SheetsSheet 5 mvN-rolzs Pens J Gal/her) BY 5/9/7/69 Marv/h O JJ EJN ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1952 R. J. GAUBERT ETAL 2,583,641

soxmxmc MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 /2/ I22 I l INVENTO RS Ben: J. Gauberf fifan/ey Marv/n ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1952 -umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

.This invention relates to box-making machines, and visconcerned more particularlywith the provision of I a machine of this character in whichthe overlappingv portions of the .box are .secured together by heat-sealing.

It-is a general object of the invention to.pro

vide-a box-making machine which will form the boxfrom a blank and secure the box in formed rrelation by heat-sealing of selected portions .thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide .abox-making machine of the above character whichis automatic in operation.

. A further object of theinvention is to provide .a box-making machine-of the above character -whichais adjustable for operation on difierent sizes of box blanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a box-making machine 01' the above character which operatesin a cyclic fashion, to carry a box :blank'through thei machine in successive operating. steps so that the vbox blank is formed, heat is appliedrto the overlapping portions carrying the heat-sealing material, and the box is held at a .coolingstation until the sealing material has -cooled:suificientlyto maintain the box shape.

=Other. objects. andadvantages of the invention will beapparent in the following description of .apreferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a right side elevational view of the machine when viewing the machine with the box forming -'-station "as located at the "front end thereof.

Figure 2 is a' left side elevational view'of the machine.

as indicated by the line 6-6 in'Figure'5.

Figure '7' is'a sectional view in plan of the ma- "chine taken as indicated by the line 'I-I in Figure 4.

Fig'ure'8 is-a'reduced planviewof a box blank. Figure 9 is another sectional view 'in plan takenasindicated by the line 9-9 in Figure 1.

FigurelO is a plan view of the completed box. "Figure 11 is 'a fragmentary sectional'view' of a portion'of the cyclic control means takenasindicated bythe line IIII in'Figure 9.

Figure 12 is' a sectional view through the box 'forming mandrel.

"Figure .13is a fragmentary sectional view of 'the box forming mandrel taken as indicated by the line I3-I3.in.Figure 12.

'Figure'14 is .a plan view, partially insection, of

of the partition I3.

the box forming mandrel'taken .as'indicate'd by the line I4'I4 inFigure. 13.

vIn general, the box-making machine of the instant invention operates in conjunction with apre-fabricated box blankhaving certain portions thereof coated with asuitable heat-sealing material. The machine performs the functions of forming the box blank to the desired shape, heating the coated portionsto effect heat-sealing of the overlapping portions together and then cooling the box. The preferred embodiment illustrated comprises a frame 5 including respecvtive side plates I0 and II "(Figures 1 to5) which are connected adjacent the'top .by anarched transverse frame bracket [2 and aibracket Ior partition. I 3, and adjacent the" bottom byaltrans- .verse channel-shaped bracket 1. 'Thevarious brackets are bolted toithefsideplates'IIl and I I. The frameprovides a mounting for means forming various operating stations in the .machine including .a blank holding'station iI-B (Figure 5) a box forming [station II. havingaboxiforming and feeding mandrel. I 8 associated therewith, a

heat-sealing station I9, and. a coolingstation 2|. Bothdfthelatter stations arealso cooperative with the mandrel I8. As will be described,'the machine functions itofeed-a box blank from a .blank holding station I6 to the.forming station I1 where itis engaged'bythe mandrel I8 and carrie'dithereby successively through the forming "station I1, the .heat-sealingfstation I9, and the cooling" station '2 I ".The drive mechanism of the machine includes :a suitable source of power such .asan electric motor 22 (FiguresB and 9) iof'the gear-head type which operates a 'drive'shaftn journalled in a boss" 24 ofthe side plate. I I The shafti23i carries a'pinion26 meshing withthe'gea'r 21 on'a'trans- 'verse'main drive shaft 28' of the machine which is journalled in respective bosses 29 of.the side plates and has various drive mechanisms. of the 'machine connected thereto in a'mannerllater described.

Blan'k' holding's'tation The blank holding station-I6 (Figures "l, 2, 3 and -5) includes amovable bottom wall '36 which is moimted for sliding movement on respective horizontal supporting and guide plates 31 secured on the side plates It) and I I. '-An end wall of the station is formed by thebracket partition I3,.and side walls'are' formed by. adjustable sidev plates, each supported'by a bracket M which in turn engages atrackfl formed alongI-the upper edge A set screw associated with each bracket 4'I holds the side walls 39 in theselected laterally adjustedposition which is determined by the size of box'blank being used .in the. machine. Each side wall 39- alsov carries an inclined rear ,guide arm 44, which extends is provided with an L-shaped bracket 46 engaging over the cooperating side wall 39 and having a set screw 41 for maintaining a desired adjusted position. The upper face of the bottom wall 36 is provided with a longitudinal groove 48 in which there is adjustably secured a cam feed element 49 having a shoulder 49a and a tapered portion 49b. This element is adapted to engage under the lowermost one of a stack of box blanks whereby the lowermost blank is moved by engagement with shoulder 49a when wall 36 is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 5. A blank is thereby fed through a gap below the depending fingers 5|.

To control the size of the feed gap below the fingers 5| of the end wall I3, an L-shaped strap 50 (Figure 3) is mounted for adjustment within a guide-way formed in the wall I3 so that its lower end is spaced from the bottom wall 36 slightly more than the thickness of a box blank. The strap 50 is slotted to accommodate a pair of retaining screws 50a, and at its upper end carries an adjusting screw 50b which engages the upper edge of the end wall I3 at a central cut-away portion thereof.

The box blank feeding movement of the bottom wall 36 is effected by means including a pair of respective parallel links 52, each of which is pivotally secured to the wall 36 and to the upper end of a lever 53 pivoted at 54 on each side plate I and II, respectively. Intermediate its ends each lever 53 is connected by an eccentric follower 56 with an eccentric 51 on the main drive shaft 28. This main drive shaft 28 revolves once for each cycle of operation of the machine so that the bottom wall 36 will be moved rearwardly from the position shown in Figure during the first half cycle and then advanced again, as shown, during the ensuing half cycle of the operation of the machine to feed another box blank.

Feed means A box blank advanced from the box blank holding station by movement of the bottom wall 36 thereof is engaged between respective upper and lower feed rolls 6| and 62 (Figures 1, 3, 5 and '7) which extend transversely of the machine for transfer to the box forming station. The upper roll 6| is journalled in the respective side plates I0 and I I and at one end carries a sprocket 63, which is driven through a chain 64 from a sprocket 66 on the shaft 23. The lower feed roll 62 has its ends journalled in respective bearing blocks 61 guided for vertical sliding movement in guide-ways 68 of the respective side plates I0 and I and urged upwardly by a spring 69 at each end so that the roll sections of the lower roll 62 are spring-urged upwardly into engagement with the roll sections of the upper feed roll 6|. The two feed rolls are geared together by gearing II (Figure 3) so that the rolls rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Figure 5.

Forming station The rolls 6| and 62 (Figures 5 and '7) operate to pick-up a box blank introduced therebetween and to initiate its transfer from the blank holding station I6 to the blank forming station IT. The blank, in feeding from the rolls 6| and 62, is delivered to a pair of spaced apart parallel feed belts 8| (Figures 5 and 7) which are trained over respective upper rollers 82 and lower rollers 83, said rollers being carried by adjustable brackets 84 of the heating and cooling stations referred to in greater detail hereinafter. The belts 8| receive their drive through gearing 89 (Figures 2 and 7). The box blank is carried rapidly by the belts 8| between respective guide strips which are adjustably mounted by bolts 86 on a removable forming plate 81. Plate 81 is removably secured to the side plates I0 and I I by bolts 88. The respective strips 85 carry adjustable stops 9| against which the box blank is held by the belts 8| in position for the forming operation.

The forming plate 81 is provided with a central rectangular opening 92 corresponding in cross sectional area to the major cross sectional area of the formed box. The side guide strips 85 and the stops 9I are so located with respect to the opening 92 that the bottom portion 93a of the cardboard or fiberboard box blank 93 (Figure 8) is aligned with and above the opening 92, with the side walls 93b extending over the side portions of the plate 81 and the end walls 930 over the end portions of this plate. Studs 96 are carried by the forming plate adjacent the corners of opening 92 and are adapted to underlie the tabs 93d of the blank. The inner corners of these studs are beveled off or cut away as indicated at 96a to more effectively guide the tabs 93d during a folding operation. Retaining fingers 85a are attached to strips 85 and have their free inner ends spaced above the adjacent upper surfaces of plate 81. Thus these fingers overlie the end walls 93c of the blank to retain the same for an interval during initial movement of the blank downwardly through opening 92. During such initial movement, however, the side walls 93b 'are bent upwardly by engagement with edges 92b, and tabs 93d are bent inwardly to insure positioning of .the same inwardly of walls 930 when the latter are permitted to bend upwardly. Retention of walls 930 is made possible during such initial movement by rounding off the end edges of the plate opening 92, as indicated at 92a. The corners of opening 92 are relieved as indicated at 92c in order to accommodate blank stock material which may project from the box corners as a result of the blank folding operation.

Box forming mandrel The box forming mandrel (Figures 4, 5, 12 and 13) includes a pair of removably mounted boxlike sections IIII, each of which is secured by cap screws I02 to a depending support arm I03. Each support arm I03 is pivoted at I04 to a member I06. The hub of the member I06 is secured by set screws I01 on a vertically extending sleeve I08.

The sleeve I08 (Figure 5) extends upwardly from the support member I06 and the mandrel sections I0| through a guide head III carried by the cross bracket I2. The sleeve I08 is provided with a gear rack II2 which meshes with and is driven by a gear II3 on a transverse shaft H4. The shaft is journalled on head III between the main body of the same and the cap H6. The shaft II4 (Figure 11) carries a pinion I I1 adjacent one end thereof and enclosed within a housing |I8 which is pivoted on the shaft H4. The pinion H1 is engaged with a drive rack ||9 mounted for vertical sliding movement within the housing II8. Rack H9 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a cam follower arm I2I which is pivoted on the frame at I22. The follower arm |2| has a cam roller I23 engaged with a track I24 of a cam member I26 carried at one end of the drive shaft 28. The cam member I26 (Figure 2) has an adjustable bolted connection at I21 with a drive plate I28 which is to"the-shaft *28y'so that the'cam I26 can beassem'bledthereon in properly timed relation. -'I'he-box"forming mandrelreferred to generally "aboveis'adjustable-between collapsed and expanded conditions-sothat it varies its dimensions between the '"desired'box'form size and a smaller "sizeforwithdrawalfrom thebox. 'In' order to "controlthis change in size, the support'arms I03 for the mandrel sections IOI (Figures 12, 13 and 14) are g'gravity engaged with respective rollers "13I"carried by"atrarisverse shaft I32 whichis 'joum'alled'in-afork t34- atthe lower-end of'a "shaft I36. Theshaft I32 'is'also guided in slots I33 formed in *downward extensions of bracket "I66. "Theshaftl36 extends upwardly through the'sleeve I08 and is provided with spaced lock- "inggrooves I31 for engagement by spring-urged latchingor"detent balls "I38. The grooves I31 are so spaced thatrollers I3I 'canbe latched in engagement with eitherthe'raised portions I39 of'themandrelsectio'ns I'0I'or with the planar wail portionsMIthereof. In other words, the 'mandrel is latched in either the expanded con- "dltion or'the collapsed condition thereof. 'Tocontrolthe conditioning of the mandrel, "amupwar'd extension of the head III (Figure carries an adjustable stop screw I46 for engagementwiththe upper endo'f shaft I36, and'also "a'second adjustable stop screw I41 for engagement with" a finger I48 which is clamped 'on' the shaftll fi. With the parts positioned 'as shown "in""Figures"5"and 13, the mandrel sections IOI are in'expanded condition to form a cross sectional areacorresponding'to the bottom of the '-'box*'blank soithat, upon downward movement "or the mandrel I8; it will engage the bottom of the boxblank' resting on the .forming plate 81 and willfcarrytheboxblank down through the openting92. This operation serves'through the but- "tons 96 to bend the ears 93d of the blank beforethetsides 93b engage the side edges of the "opening92. The 'end walls 93c do not engage the "depressed curved end'walls 92a of the opening 92' untllafter the sidewalls 93b engage the ,side"walls"92bof the opening 92. In addition, "the" end walls 930 are restrained from bending 'upwardly'byretaining fingers 8511. on the guide bars 85. "As-the downward travel'of the mandrel 18' continues,'the box is folded to theform shown 'lnlFigureio, and is carried through the plate "81 to the heating station.

Heating station "The heating station comprises four angle- ="shaped "heating elements I6I (Figures 4, 5, 9 and 13) which are'arranged to form an opening corresponding in shape to the box, with the upper edges thereof flared as at I6Ia to receive the box tween"the-"cooperatingbrackets 34 previously referred toyand each bracket-l63*is-also provided ment with the heating elements I6 I.

with athreaded boss I63b'engage'd with a threaded shaft I12 journalled in the cooperating-brackets 84 and provided with --an operating handle I13. The threaded shaft -I12 isformed intwo sections, as "seen in Figure '9, which-arethreaded in opposite directions so thatturning of the shaft serves'to adjust the cooperating pair of heating elements I6I toward and from each other to provide an'adjustment for thesize of box being made.

Each of the brackets 84-. (Figures 4, 5 and '9) is in turn provided with anupper guide boss 84a engaged'witha cross guide-shaft- I16 extending between the side plates III and II, and a-lower threaded boss -84b engaged with a transverse threaded shaft I11 which is also journalled in suitable hearings in the-side frame plates. There are two guide shafts I16, and twothreadedadjusting'shafts-I 11 for the respective pairs or support brackets 34. 'Each shaft I" is provided with two "oppositely threadedsections so'that the oppositesets ofbrackets-84 are adjusted'towards and away from each other on turning of the'threaded'shafts I11. These'shafts l11 (Figure 1) are providedwith sprockets I18 engaged bye, chain I19 so that turningof the handle I8I onthe left-hand shaft- I11 (as viewed in- Figure 1) will cause simultaneous adjustment of the'opposite sets'of brackets 64*with-respect to each other. "In this way the heatingelements I6I can be adjusted in rectangular fashion in accordance with'the size of box to'beforme'd.

Cooling. station Below the heating elernents I6I (Figure 13) each of the supporting brackets I63 therefor carry a similar arrayof L-shaped cooling ele- 'ments-I86 which are mounted on the brackets I63 in'thesame fashion'and in vertical align- The cooling elementscooperate with the'mandrel I8 to receive the boxesin heated condition, andserve to withdraw sufllcient heat so that the heat-sealing material will harden or..-set.as will now be described. They are formed of suitable-metal with .suflicient heat dissipation to cause. themvto remain at a relatively low temperature range. .These elements canalso .be.cooled.as by means .of a

circulating system, "-as by providing them with box blank station, the stops "9| and'theguide blank. "Each of the angle-shaped heating ele- I ments HI- is carried by a pair of studs I62 which extend loosely through a vertically extending bracket I63. A'leaf spring I64 interposed between-each heating block I6I and the bracket I63 provides a resilient mounting of the heating element in receiving a box and provides a spring pressure for holding the formed box between the heating elements and the box forming mandrel. Each of the heating elements I6I in- -"cludes a conventional form of electrical heater "I66 and one ofthe blocks is provided with a control thermostat I61 of conventional construction.

-Eaoh bracket I63 (Figures 4, 5 and 9) is pro- 'vided'withrespective guide bosses I63a engaged with respective guide shafts I1I extending be- "portionsthereof'as'shown at I9I in Figure 8.

Tabs 93d'may bev providedwith a similar coat- "ing on theirouter' surfaces (bottomsurfaces as viewed"in"Figure 8)-which are to be bonded to coating IOI. Referring to Figure 11, it willbe noted that with the cam I24 turning counterclockwise, the mandrel I8 will be lowered by the V cam rise l24a and this operation serves to carry the box blank through the opening 92 in the forming plate 81 so that the box is formed to the shape shown in Figure 10. In the folding operation, the ears 93d of the blank are folded inwardly and the side walls 93b folded upwardly, and then the end walls 930 are folded upwardly.

The downward movement of the mandrel l8 continues until the folded box is positioned between the mandrel sections lfll and the heating elements IGI. The rise portion l24a (Figure 11) of the cam I26 is followed by a dwell portion 12% thereof during which the box is held between the mandrel and the heating elements, so that the heat-sealing material is softened to cause adherence of the overlapping portions of the box blank. During this time the coated surfaces are being pressed together. The dwell portion I242) of the cam is followed by a cam rise |24c which serves to further move the mandrel [8 downwardly so that the box is carried from the heating station to the cooling station. During the last portion of this travel the shaft I36 is retarded by engagement of lug I48 with screw I41 so that detent balls I38 are disengaged from the upper groove I31 and engaged with the lower groove I31. At the same time the rollers [3| move into engagement with the depressed portions Ml of the mandrel sections I01 (Figure 13) and the mandrel I8 is collapsed. Thus as the descending portion l24d of the cam becomes effective to again raise the mandrel, the collapsed mandrel is free to lift from the box and will not again be expanded until its upper position when the shaft I36 will engage the stop screw 146.

At this time the parts have returned to the position shown in Figure and the feeding of another box blank to the feed rolls 6| and 62 has been completed by the movable bottom 36 of the blank holding station so that the sequence of the operations described above will be repeated.

The box remains in the cooling station for an interval of time suflicient to reduce the temperature of the adhesive and thus form a relatively strong bond. It is ejected from the cooling station by the next box formed by the succeeding cycle.

As shown in Figure 7, the stops 9| and the guide strips 85 at the forming station I! are of a character for use with a box blank and box of the character shown in Figures 8 and 10. By providing guide strips of greater length and by adjusting the position of the stops 9| outwardly, the

forming station can be adapted for use with a box having an attached folding lid. In this case the box blanks are positioned to be fed lid first through the feed rolls.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it is capable of other variations and modifications within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a box making machine, a folding station for receiving a blank to be folded to box form and including a detachably mounted apertured folding member of rectangular contour, a heatsealing station comprising four angle-shaped sealing members mounted in alignment with the corners of the rectangular aperture, and a cooling and holding station comprising a similar rectangular arrangement of four angle-shaped members.

2. In a box making machine, a heat-sealing station comprising four angle-shaped sealing members forming a rectangular aperture, and means mounting said members for adjustment to vary the size of the rectangular opening in accordance with the size of box being formed.

3. In a box making machine, a folding station for receiving a blank to be folded to box form and including a detachably mounted apertured folding member of rectangular contour, a heatsealing station comprising four angle-shaped sealing members mounted in alignment with respective corners of the rectangular aperture. a cooling and holding station comprising a similar rectangular arrangement of four angle-shaped members, and means common to said members of said sealing station and said holding station mounting said members for adjustment to vary the size of box being formed.

4. In a box making machine, a folding station for receiving a blank to be folded to box form and including a detachably mounted folding member having an opening of rectangular contour, a heatsealing station comprising four angle-shaped sealing members mounted in alignment with respective corners of said rectangular opening, a cooling and holding station comprising a similar rectangular arrangement of four angle-shaped members, means mounting said members of said sealing station and said holding station for adjustment in accordance with the size of box being formed, and a mandrel for progressing blanks and formed boxes through said stations and comprising detachably mounted elements.

5. In a box making machine, a blank folding station including an apertured structure, means for positioning a flat blank on said structure, a mandrel comprising two parts movable relative to each other between expanded and collapsed positions, a support member for the mandrel parts, arms extending from said parts and pivotally attached to the support member to thereby permit movements of said parts between expanded and collapsed positions relative to each other, means for cyclically reciprocating said support member and mandrel to force the blank through the aperture to thereby fold side margins of the same to form a box and to thereafter retract the mandrel from the box and the aperture, said last means including a member adapted to be reciprocated and having limited lost motion sliding engagement with said support member, and means for moving said parts to said collapsed position at the end of the stroke of the mandrel through said structure and for expanding said parts at the end of the return stroke, said last means including cam elements actuated by relative movement between the support member and said reciprocated member.

RENE J. GAUBERT. STANLEY MARVIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,091,235 ltlolins Mar. 24, 1914 2,228,932 Thompson Jan. 14, 1941 2,321,562 Coy et al June 8, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 171,046 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1934 

